New Member With A New Tank

[dannybgoode]

Hi all

Thought I'd introduce myself.

I've been keeping fish for around 6 years now having inherited my sister's massively overstocked (and I mean massively 40+ fish in a 90l!) tank when she moved to Australia.

I've slowly let the tank stock drop so that I can restart it with the fish that I want and until today have 5 Cory Sterbais, 1 black widow tetra and 2 silver fin tetras.

Unfortunately the 90l started leaking a couple of weeks ago so I have snuck an upgrade passed the wife to a 210l which I'm just in the process of setting up (had to build a stand etc) and will transfer the filter etc from the 90 (don't worry - bought a massive external filter a while ago just in case the opportunity to upgrade came along - forward planning and all that!) so no cycling worries. I'm also taking the opportunity to swap to sand substrate to keep the Corys happy.

So my plan from here is a sort of colour themed tank. I'll increase the Sterbais to 8 or 10. I've bought 12 x-tetras and they seem to have allowed the 2 silver fins in the club and will get another 9 black widows and a shoal of black phantom tetras. So a nice theme of black and silver tetras of various types.

I also have a very small bristlenose plec and 2 dwarf gouramis - one red and one blue - for a splash of colour.

Finally will build up the plant stock and I should be done!

 

[Bugdozer]

Yay, someone else who will have Black Phantoms!

 

[dannybgoode]

Is that unusual? My favourite fish, think they're absolutely stunning in a shoal - particularly when showing off their dorsal fins...

Cheers

Danny B

 

[dannybgoode]

Crikey this new tank is taking far longer to sort that I first thought!

Got it on Saturday and had built a stand for it (only out of MDF I'm afraid but its nice and sturdy). Spent a day washing the gravel out that I had bought from B&Q before reading that Corys much prefer sand so of the Argos for some play sand and another couple of hours washing that out and loading in the tank - doesn't help the tank is in the attic - so many stairs!

Another couple of hours shifting the old Juwel 90l out of the way (still has the fish in for now so had to empty it as far as I could then drag it across the floor) and slide the new tank and stand into place.

Tonight was spent filling it up but got about 2/3rds full and the found it wasn't level - the weight of the water had took effect so out with a couple of buckets full and then got told off by the wife as I was disturbing the baby! Finished the night by putting in the first bit of bog wood and some plants.

So, tomorrow I'll finish the filling and leave it a day or so to settle (the water's pretty clear - must have done a good job cleaning the sand!) and then get the heaters in and Thursday it'll probably be ready for the fish!

It'll be worth it though and better than rushing it and cocking something up...

Cheers

Danny B

 

[Aquascaper]

Will the filter be pre-cycled with mature media?

Also, before you get too far I would strongly advise sealing the MDF will pva glue mixed with water or similar if you haven't alresdy. If you don't seal it, over time drips and moisture will warp it and could cause it to break apart (speaking from experience).

 

[dannybgoode]

Thanks Aquascaper - Haven't sealed the MDF yet but will do. Its fairly well protected by the 50mm slab of polystyrene the tank sits on but will definitely be worth sealing. Good tip with the PVA - cheers. I'm going to put some extra bracing on it as well - its pretty solid but will feel more comfortable with some decent metal braces on there.

Need to build a lid as well - sure I can whip something up with some nice ply (and that will be properly water sealed!).

The filter is from the current 90l (which is supporting the current stock - 1 black widow tetra, 2 silver fin tetras, 12 x ray tetras (still babies), 5 Cory Sterbai and a very small (2cm at the most) bristlenose) - don't worry that is massively overfiltered at the moment (All Ponds 1400) but will likely add a second before the tank is fully stocked - can never have too much filtering in my opinion! Been running for around 8 or 9 months.

Just waiting for the second heater to turn up (going for a pair of 150w's for a bit of redundancy in the system) and then hopefully will all be up and running.

Cheers

Danny B

 

[Aquascaper]

Sounds like you're good to go once everything's sealed, etc.

 

[dannybgoode]

Yeah, hope so. Wanted to be done sooner but no point rushing these things. May post a pic or two once done...

Cheers

Danny B

 

[dannybgoode]

Well the new tank is nicely up and running. Needs a few more plants (on the way) and caves (have lots of spare slate kicking around) in it but so far so good.

Current stock is 12 x-ray tetras, 9 black phantom tetras, 1 black widow tetra (from the last tank), 2 silver fin tetras (from the old tank but seem to have been adopted by the x-rays), 6 Sterbai (soon to be 11) and a sailfin plec (don't ask - currently 'babysitting' but he's not so big at the moment) and I think I'm going to leave it at that for now - looks nice

Have added a Fluval U4 internal filter to compliment my APS 1000 EF so plenty of filtration - can never have too much!

The final job is to build a lid. Have bought a few LED strip lights and have been butchering various computer related power supplies to power them and then job's a good 'un.

Cheers

Danny B

 

[Questions?]

pics?

 

[dannybgoode]

pics?

Once its finished. Plants should come early this week and just have to build the lid. Should be done by next weekend...

Cheers

Danny B

 

[Questions?]

alright